Amy Tintera has a way with words that casted a spell upon me, weaving enchantments with every turn of the story. She has undoubtedly earned the title of a Word Witch in my grimoire of literary wonders.
Amy Tintera offers a captivating twist on the true crime genre, incorporating the popular podcast trope and casting a fascinating light on feminist themes. Departing from the typical narrative, Tintera casts women as the “villains” instead of men, disrupting traditional roles, expectations, and tropes with a magical flourish. Her entertaining prickly narrative crackles with energy, punctuated by sharp comebacks, and commentary with a hint of satire.
Years ago, whispers swirled through Lucy’s small town, accusing her of conjuring the demise of her best friend, Savvy. Yet Lucy’s memory remains as foggy as a misty cauldron. Now, drawn back to her hometown after years of exile, Lucy finds herself haunted by the shadows of her past as she unravels the threads of truth, as to what happened that fateful night. Tintera uniquely navigates the dual narrative of past and present, unraveling layers of secrets and lies with each twist and turn. Lucy’s quest for answers is further heightened by the investigation of a true crime podcast and its charismatic host, Ben Owens.
As the final pages come to a thrilling unique close and rewarding payoff, Amy Tintera sealed her fate as a word witch. With the flick of her pen, she deftly flips through those tired and predictable true crime podcast tropes, leaving behind a trail of magic and mystery long after the final page is turned.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Heather Gudenkauf has embraced the popular trend of the locked room mystery, but her latest novel takes a thrilling departure from the conventional trope. By intertwining the high-stakes drama of a reality show with a captivating mystery, she navigates the complex dynamics of a cast of characters competing for a jaw-dropping cash prize, each harboring their own secrets and motivations.
Much like Heather Gudenkauf’s other books, it’s the execution of suspense, that drives the pace, keeping me on the edge of my seat. What starts as a quest for the coveted cash prize soon morphs into a gripping battle for survival. With escalating tensions and long-held secrets, we are pulled further into a complex web of intrigue. The characters come to life, brimming with their own secrets, desires, and unwavering determination to triumph. As the plot unwinds, she unveils layers of deception, secrets, and concealed motives, delving deeper into a web of intrigue.
While the premise may verge on the extravagant and over the top, Heather Gudenkauf’s storytelling has undeniable entertainment value, making for a thrilling and satisfying read. The fusion of reality TV drama and compelling mystery elements creates a unique and exhilarating reading experience that had me eagerly turning pages until the final revelation.
I received a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss.
Hot Diggity Dang, I love a good revenge thriller, and Steve Cavanagh delivers one that’s hot, intense, and emotionally messy, just the way I like one to be. While I’m not always a fan of the ‘stranger on the train’ trope, Cavanagh proves himself to be the right author to handle it, crafting a unique, unpredictable, and thrilling page-turner with his explosive, game-changing reveals.
BUT Steve Cavanagh does push the believability element by complicating things for a few pages, which almost lost me until he tightened up the narrative and got back on track.
From start to finish, this revenge thriller had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn. The climax is particularly exhilarating, with tension mounting until the jaw-dropping reveal that caught me completely off guard, making the ending a truly satisfying payoff.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Lisa Regan surprises and delights me yet again and continues to defy expectations, leaving me in awe once more. In a departure from her well-known “missing girl” trope, she delivers a thrilling locked-room mystery, showcasing her versatility as a storyteller, woven with themes of trauma, earning the title of a word witch.
Through the 18 books Detective Josie Quinn has experienced plenty of loss and Josie is taking some time to address the losses in her life as well as her childhood trauma. In the refreshing shift in focus takes Detective Josie Quinn to a hunting Lodge in the mountains used as a trauma retreat. However, once again, a dead body finds Josie, presenting her with another mystery to solve. This time, it’s not just about the dynamics between the characters that I love so much. Josie is on her own with a few suspects and must navigate the investigation without Noah and her team by her side.
Joined by a cast of characters, each harboring their own haunting scars, the retreat transforms into a gripping crime scene, where secrets are brought to light, intensifying the suspense. Lisa Regan intricately weaves together elements of suspense, psychological depth, and atmospheric tension, focusing on the intricate dynamics of the cast of characters, the unexpected twists and turns, and the enthralling journey of unraveling the truth and motives behind their presence at the retreat. The isolated and eerie setting of the retreat, added layers of complexity to the unfolding drama. Each startling revelation, had me captivated right up to the climactic and riveting conclusion. It’s one not to be missed!
Check out my post for all the books in the series here here
Alex Michaelides is a masterful wordsmith, skillfully wielding a pen dipped in mystery and intrigue. His writing, much like a well-crafted spell, intricately weaves plots that ensnare the reader’s mind while dancing around the realms of sanity, reality and mystery. Possessing a knack for spinning spellbinding narratives and conjuring characters that linger in the shadows, he makes each chapter feel like a potion of suspense, drawing readers into his bewitching tales.
The Fury
The Fury is a mesmerizing tale that masterfully interweaves mystery and psychology, skillfully blurring the boundaries between sanity and reality. Taking place on a secluded Greek island with a cast of seven, the narrative unravels in five acts, each chapter unfolding like a compelling scene in a dramatic production, with the characters taking on their roles with theatrical flair. The fury, a wild Greek wind, serves as a symbol of the intense emotions swirling through the story.
Amid a murder mystery on the island, Michaelides brings a fresh perspective to the locked room mystery trope. Our storyteller, Elliot Chase, adopts a conversational tone with a touch of messiness, delving into the web of jealousy, ambition, obsession, and infidelity surrounding the characters.
But
Elliot unfolds the characters’ backgrounds through flashbacks, easing tension and slowing the pace to a snail’s crawl. This approach, while momentarily agonizing, sets the stage for the upcoming juicy drama, which might have felt exaggerated if not for the backdrop of characters immersed in the entertainment industry.
However
Michaelides possesses a remarkable talent for catching readers off guard, skillfully orchestrating unexpected actions by his characters. These surprising twists, woven throughout the narrative, culminate in a satisfying payoff by the story’s conclusion.
The Silent Patient
In 2019, “The Silent Patient” garnered significant attention and sparked widespread discussions. The publisher’s extensive promotional efforts played a pivotal role in propelling the book to soaring reviews and securing its place on numerous TBR (to be read) shelves. It was a popular one and a large Traveling Sister Group read, that captured our praise and inspiring lively discussions among us.
If you haven’t already delved into its pages, it’s a compelling read that should not be overlooked. For an unbiased experience, it’s advisable to avoid preconceived notions and refrain from perusing reviews on platforms like Goodreads. Embrace the unknown and immerse yourself in the author’s narrative without being influenced by external opinions.
The Maidens
While not as extensive as the promotional campaign for “The Silent Patient,” Alex Michaelides’s second novel, “The Maiden,” also generated significant hype. However, the book became the subject of scrutiny from reviewers who did not embrace the hype.
My review
I didn’t find The Maidens as exciting as The Silent Patient. Alex Michaelides left those twisty, shocking twists and turns I love to The Silent Patient and created a more emotional charge twist for our characters here. The Maidens is a stand-alone however, it has a clever tie-in to The Silent Patient. If you haven’t read it, you are in for a treat to read them back to back.
The Maidens is set at Cambridge University, where a secret society of female students called the “Maidens” are murdered. Group therapist Mariana returns to the campus to support her niece, and the story centers around Mariana’s obsession with proving professor Edward Fosca is the killer.
I was drawn in by the first few chapters of “The Maidens” that focus on Mariana’s grief and her work as a group therapist. I found the psychological side of the group dynamics and Greek mythology the most interesting part of the story. A lot of time was spent on Mariana trying to convince everyone who the killer is and them dismissing her. This slow down the story for me and I would like more time spent delving into the group dynamics. The suspense is light and the danger was not as tense as I usually like but Alex Michaelides manages to create a compelling and engaging story that had me turning the pages as fast as I could. There are plenty of red herrings to guess from and keep you distracted and maybe a bit too many as Alex Michaelides delves more into the psyche side of the characters with that a final twist that I almost missed. I enjoyed how we see into the emotional side to the characters with that final twist rather than a shocking plot twist. I look forward to seeing what is next because I have a feeling it will tie into the ending here.
‘Tis the season for winter chills, and it’s been too chilly to do anything but stay warm and read. I certainly prefer to experience those winter chills in the books I read. So which books delivered the best chills
A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke
In my books, C.J. Cooke has firmly established herself as the Queen of creating gothic atmospheric settings. Whether it’s the unsettling house and woods of The Ghost Woods, the secluded fjord in The Nesting, or the desolation of the Scottish island in The Lighthouse Witches, she ventures into even more chilling waters in her latest work—a haunted ghost ship.
Just when I thought I had seen it all from entitled men who inflict pain upon women for their own desires, Cooke creates a dark, unique, emotional, bone-chilling, vivid narrative as she delves into themes of trauma and revenge. While not overtly descriptive, her writing resonates quietly yet vividly, painting a clear picture of pain and trauma through atmospheric prose. Adding another layer to the story, Cooke introduces Norse folktales, adding an exciting, unique, haunting dose of chills.
The cleverly paced reveal is surprising, with jaw-dropping moments that go beyond twists. The satisfying payoff brings everything together, leaving me with awe and an unforgettable reading experience.
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
Kelley Armstrong’s stand-alone dives into the horror genre with Hemlock Island as she creates a thrilling and unique paranormal experience. It’s a page-turning, spine-chilling, bizarre adventure on an isolated island where odd and sinister things happen. The island becomes something more than a character; this is not your typical horror novel. Armstrong plays with familiar tropes—the isolated setting, the stranded characters, the looming storm—but she spins them into something new, avoiding the standard locked-room scenario.
The characters of Hemlock Island don’t fit the typical horror mold, and these characters are not necessarily the ones you find yourself rooting for. However, the story’s surprising and gripping villain motivations anchor the book’s suspense.
Armstrong weaves in various themes and elements like a wilderness adventure, supernatural occurrences, environmental activism, teenage turmoil, feminism, and LGBTQ representation with a nod to #MeToo feminism. It feels overly ambitious, and she misses the mark with some things.
Despite its shortcomings, I thought Hemlock Island was thrilling and kept me turning the pages. It offered an intense experience that didn’t demand much introspection while providing twists and a meaningful villainous drive.
Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
The “And Then There Were None” trope, a popular classic in the realm of mysteries, has been used many times, and breathing new life into this well-trodden path can be challenging. However, Darcy Coates manages to break the mold by infusing this familiar setup with a relentless, action-packed narrative that races from the very beginning, injecting a spine-chilling dose of horror into the mix. From start to finish, the story was a white-knuckle thrill ride, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Coates does not hold back when it comes to delivering grisly and horrifying murders that send shivers down my spine.
One of the highlights of this narrative is the choice of a locked-room setting in a remote, snowstorm-battered location. Coates expertly utilizes this backdrop to enhance the story’s eerie atmosphere, further intensifying the horror element.
As the body count rose, my suspicions shifted from one character to another, keeping me guessing until the shocking reveal, and I found myself suspecting everyone until each character met their untimely demise. However, I did manage to deduce the identity of the killer before the final “And Then There Were None” moment. The revelation of the murderer and their motive was a delightful surprise, and I liked the intricate web of connections among the characters, lending an air of credibility to the story that paid off in the end.
Whether you choose to delve into this one in the dead of winter, as a spine-tingling Halloween read, or even on a scorching summer day, one thing is certain: it will chill you to the bone and keep you enthralled until the very last page.
“I radiate, magic charm and grace wherever I fu*king go!”
Witch Words 